CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 81: TRADITIONS OF DESIRE

Her smile widened, a flash of her old confidence returning. "Good." She leaned in and kissed him again, this time slow and tender, a seal on a promise unspoken. When she pulled back, her expression grew more curious. "I felt something... when you came. A pull. Like a piece of my energy went with you. Is that... is that how it works?"

He nodded, deciding on the truth. It was a risk, but this was Ravena. "That’s the bond," he admitted quietly. "It’s how I get stronger. I absorb a part of your Vitae, and... your abilities."

She didn’t look shocked or betrayed. Instead, her eyes glittered with a fierce, possessive pride. "So you have a piece of me inside you now?" she declared, her hand sliding from his chest down to his stomach. "Then you’ll never be able to forget who you belong to."

Zaeryn chuckled, pulling her closer until she was tucked against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. "I don’t think I could, even if I tried."

"We should do this more." She said head turned, meeting his gaze with an intense look.

"You don’t need to convince me," he replied, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. He’d never tire of Ravena—she was irresistible.

They stayed like that in the warm, quiet stillness, simply enjoying each other’s presence.

___

Back downstairs, Marceline had finished her tea and was now scrolling through a news site.

Aeris was still drinking her tea, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "What do you think they are doing now?" She asked.

"I don’t know. If you’re that curious, why don’t you go and see." Marceline teased.

"That would be just weird." She said, although in truth, she was tempted by the idea of witnessing Zaeryn and Ravena making love. She laid back on the soft cushioed seat, "Well, I’m certainly looking forward to the day when it’s my turn."

Marceline looked up. "Are you now?"

"Of course. Who wouldn’t be excited?" Aeris replied. She glanced up, her gaze meeting Marceline’s with an openly seductive smirk. "Unless, of course, you want to go first."

Marceline paused, her teacup halfway to her mouth. Actually, this wasn’t a new idea, infact this idea had a long time ago taken root and had been growing within her mind. Her gaze grew contemplative, as she considered the proposition. "I think... I may just do that," she said, setting the cup aside. "After all, it is tradition, that he should take care of everyone’s sexual needs in this house."

Aeris’s smirk widened face a perfect picture of lust, "Then I can’t wait."

____

Zaeryn was enjoying his shower after an intense session with Ravena. It was one of his favorite moments of the day.

As he showered, his mind began to wander, thinking of the future and what else would be in store for him. He had been able to unlock a new ability that was quite helpful, and his overall Vitae reserves had increased substantially.

He was getting stronger and more powerful.

But it wasn’t enough. His hunger was growing; he wanted more power and more moments like the one he had just had with Ravena.

With the water cascading over him, Zaeryn’s thoughts sharpened. ’System, show me my stats.’

A translucent screen materialized in his vision, its cool text a stark contrast to the shower’s warm steam. He scanned past his Vitae reserves, focusing on the new acquisitions.

[ABILITY DETAILS]

[Kinetic Acceleration (Rank F / Nascent) - Allows for short bursts of superhuman speed and enhanced reflexes. Further mastery requires dedicated training to control the energy output and avoid overexertion.]

He frowned, his eyes locking on the word that appeared next to both abilities: Nascent. It was just like when he acquired Vitae Weaving from Daphne, this new ability was dormant. He had the potential, but he had to awaken and master it himself.

But how? He needed a teacher.

His first thought was Ravena. He’d just acquired her ability, so logically, she should be the one to teach him.

He immediately dismissed the idea. She wasn’t suitable for it. From what he remembered, Ravena never liked using her Vitae and had no plans to be a warlady, so she rarely tried to master it.

If she had even awakened her abilities, it was likely because the academy forced her to.

Her ambition lay elsewhere. She wasn’t studying to be a warrior or a noble lady serving under the Lumina royal family; she was aiming for a seat on the Matriarch Tribunal. This was the highest authority in their world, a supreme body that governed all the Queendoms.

The queens of every nation answered to the Tribunal’s rulings. It was a place where power was wielded not with a blade, but with intellect, influence, and an unshakeable command of the law.

Ravena’s goal was to become one of its highest authorities, a Judge, where her word could bring entire kingdoms to heel. For a goal like that, a combat ability like Kinetic Acceleration was a minor, almost irrelevant, part of her arsenal.

____

Zaeryn stepped out of the shower, steam curling around him as warm water dripped from his skin.

He grabbed a thick towel, rubbing it over his damp hair before catching sight of himself in the full-length mirror.

He let the towel hang from his hand, striding over to the mirror and standing bare, letting the cool air of the room kiss his skin. A slow, confident grin spread across his face.

"Damn," he murmured to the reflection. "I look good."

And he was. Broad shoulders, lean muscle, and a powerful physique that carried the quiet confidence of someone who knew his own strength. And the best part was that, this was his natural body. It wasn’t just a product of hard work or going to the gym.

As he looked at himself, he felt the new power from Ravena humming in his veins, a restless, electric energy coiled deep in his core. He flexed his hand, imagining that kinetic energy exploding into a burst of impossible speed. It would soon come in handy when he has to fight.

His gaze traveled up to his face, and the grin was no longer there. He was disappointed by what he saw.